‘Promoting Inclusive Governance Through Civic Engagement’ is a concept by Public Private Development Centre- an NGO committed to improving public service effectiveness through procurement governance initiatives. The overarching objective of this project is to increase agency for rights holders in the governance and accountability landscape through the creation of opportunities for ensuring that public voices are effectively represented in the development of policy or policy reforms -, especially as they relate to the judicious use of public resources. Through this project, PPDC aims to stimulate public discourse by supporting right-holders with the platforms and tools needed to capture the public space and improve access to public infrastructure. We will work to build on existing social and value systems that can serve as catalysts for action, trust and a sense of ownership to make rightsholders difficult to ignore in governance processes.

Using an existing civic tech tool, PPDC will work to demystify public finance processes for various rights-holder groups, doing this by simplifying procurement data into visuals, creative storytelling through the arts (e.g. films and comic strips), using indigenous languages. This project will target the marginalized, the youth, and the girl-child, by tapping into PPDC’s established networks within the mainstream media, investigative journalists, community-based organizations, and traditional institutions, to amplify their voices and inform policy choices. We anticipate this project to birth a new society where citizens realize their full potentials to drive desired change by improving procurement and election governance; enhancing the transparency of programs that impact their lives. This project will shape society by enabling policies to be context reflective, spark action from duty bearers and birth a society where a life of dignity can be attained by all irrespective of their sexual orientation and affiliations. We seek a society where the rule of law is upheld and citizens freely exercise their civic duty without fear of victimization
Solution

A citizen-led approach to create a ”safe haven” for rightsholder groups by partnering with faith-based and traditional institutions, revered persons in the society, medical, psycho-social professionals, celebrities, and organizations with expertise around these issues to build trust and deliver expert services. Their partnership with policy-makers to influence policy/ reviews, strengthen the justice system to protect victims, and dispensation of justice without prejudice/bias.
Using their civic tech to strengthen the capacity of right-holder led CSOs at (Enugu and the FCT) through in-depth training, advocacy toolkits, resources, and tools to effectively engage, drive, analyze, monitor, and deepen the conversation with policymakers, governments, and groups on public finance management. This will entail advocacy, analysis of laws/policies, monitoring compliance, procurement process audit, budget/contract monitoring, incentivising compliance.

Facilitate conversations through pairing/ cluster approach of (formal and informal sector) women on elections matters, gender procurement; support interested women to help shape leadership; leveraging the success of their DISI program and partnership with NERDC to influence the integration of Nigerian cultural practices, good ethical conduct, and heritage into the school curriculum.